This is page numbers 2625 - 2646 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my statement, the terms of reference and the group of people to be consulted for the Aurora College foundational review are very similar to the assessment of the college completed in 2013. Why is another assessment of the college necessary at this point? That is my question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are aware of that review. A couple of things, just an update: some of those recommendations have been addressed in terms of working. Another one of those recommendations was to review the college's programs, and also service structure. The foundational review will, I believe, address that. At the same time, in the previous government, that report was also dismissed, but we also still looked at seeing if there was anything we could take out of that report. We also have new NWT-specific data that is going to help guide us into the way moving forward with Aurora College and developing programs and services, as well.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thanks to the Minister for that response. He started to answer my second question, which is: what has changed within the college and the department in the last four years that makes a new ground-up study necessary? It goes way beyond having a new labour market forecast. The original 2013 study looked at governance, strategic planning, relationships between the Minister and the department, and so on, so what else has changed to make a new study necessary?

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

The Member also kind of answered this. The NWT-specific data and the labour market information report that we have now will help guide us and Aurora College into the programs and services that meet the needs and educational needs of NWT residents and Northerners. It is going to help us make evidence-based decisions once we see the results. Just moving forward, that information is definitely going to help us. We are also going to be looking at administration, operations, governance, and legislation with this foundational review.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Will the Minister table the 2013 assessment of the college by Cleveland Consulting so that the public can assess the value for money of that assessment?

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

As I mentioned previously, that document itself was not for distribution or not made public. I will have to take this back to my Cabinet colleagues to get some direction on whether or not we will release that report.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take that as a commitment that the Minister will explore each and every way to make this document public. On March 6th of this year, the Minister said in the House, and I quote, "The timeline for completion of this new foundational review is fall 2017, with an implementation target of 2018-2019 academic year." Can the Minister update the House when the foundational review will be completed? Thank you.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

As the Member mentioned yesterday in her statement, we just signed a contract. Right now currently we're working on a work plan with the contractor and our department is working really hard to get that work plan developed. Once I have that work plan I will share it with Members and committee and get their input, as well as Cabinet to get their input into how we move forward. We're just waiting on that work plan, and I can't commit to anything until both the contractor and our department staff have worked on completing it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last February/March sitting I raised some questions in the House to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation with regard to three generators that were being built by Virdi Power out of California that we had put a million dollar deposit on and they were at that time about two, two and a half years behind schedule. I would like to ask the Minister if he has an update for this House. Are these generators in place and doing the job that they're supposed to do or are we still waiting for these generators? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the generators are not in place. As I understand it they are still in California. We are hoping that at least three of the five generators will be delivered in the near future. I will certainly keep this House advised as to progress in this matter. I believe we have retained or spoken to legal counsel in the State of California to determine our rights with respect to this matter, but we are hoping to get delivery, as I say, of three of the five generators. Thank you.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Here we go; we're still flying on a wing and a prayer and using the word "hope" quite often when it comes to questioning around these five particular pieces of equipment.

Mr. Speaker, at one point in time it was indicated to us that Virdi Power was going to be responsible for any costs that the Power Corporation had to undertake or incur while we were missing these generators beyond their due date. At the last sitting when I asked about this in February/March, that number was around $500,000. I don't care to know what that number is to date because it's probably exorbitant, but the question needs to be asked. At some point, Virdi Power is going to recognize that they're not making profit anymore and they might pull the string on this.

I mean, to the point that the Minister just raised, are we evaluating when is the right time to maybe cut our losses and look at maybe the other proponents that had bid on these generators? I'm sure that we would have almost had those in place by now. When are we going to stop fooling around waiting for generators that we're never going to receive and cut our losses and take legal action if we have to?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

As I mentioned, we are hoping still to get delivery of the three of five generators. With respect to legal action, we understand from our counsel in California that that would be exceedingly complex if we had to take that route; there may be other parties that could have priority. We are still hoping to get delivery of these generators. As I say, we are hoping to get at least three of the five in the near future. If we don't get those and we cannot pursue legal action in the State of California, which as I say may be very, very difficult, we will have to re-tender.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

I would have thought that this would have been some homework that we would have undertaken in advance of knowing who we were doing business with, but sadly we're learning the hard way. What reasoning is Virdi Power giving for not being able to provide these generators on the due date? I mean, we're pushing three years now; they have to be providing some legitimate reasoning as to why they're late. What is the reasoning that they're providing the Power Corporation?

Some Hon. Members

Why?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

I'm not sure of the financial situation or otherwise of Virdi Power. Clearly, we have made apparent to them our grave concerns about this matter and we also retained, apart from legal counsel which I mentioned earlier, an independent quality control inspector to provide progress reports. Progress is slow and, frankly, Virdi Power is way behind in delivery.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In there was no answer really as to why. They haven't provided us an answer as to why they're three years late, but this supports the reason as to why I continue to ask for the Power Corporation to come to MLAs during the annual business planning process to give its capital plan and its annual O and M operating plan.

I ask the Minister: will the Minister get the Power Corporation to come and provide annual operating and maintenance plans through the regular budget planning process to this government, to these MLAs, to representatives of the public? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

We're always pleased to appear in front of committee. Of course, Members will know that the Power Corporation doesn't fall under normal business plans as it's overseen by the Public Utilities Board, so that's where they appear in front of, but to provide more information with respect to these or other matters, I'd always be very happy to appear in front of committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Strategic planning is an essential management principle based on the published strategic plan for the health department caring for our people in the Northwest Territories. As part of this vision, can the Minister ensure, for example, H. pylori workshops through education in the Sahtu communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.